ABSTRACT
Background: Indian pharmaceutical industry is one of the growing pharmaceutical markets in the world having number of formulations available with large difference in prices. Price variations of such drugs which are used by large number of population have major economical implication. Hyperlipidemia is major risk factor for ischaemic heart diseases. So we planned this study to find out variation in cost of oral hypolipidemic drugs available in India either as a single drug or as fixed dose combination (FDCs) and to compare cost of their generic version with brands.Methods: The prices of single and FDCs of hypolipidemic drugs were taken from 揑ndian Drug Review 2018� and 揅urrent Index of Medical Specialities during October 2018 to December 2018�. Maximum and minimum prices of various hypolipidemic drugs of same strength and dosage forms manufactured by different companies were taken.Results: Minimum cost variations are 3.62% (pravastatin 10 mg) and 3.37% (rosuvastatin 5 mg and fenofibrate 67 mg). Maximum cost variations are 500% (simvastatin 5 mg) and 500.32% (atorvastatin 10 mg and fenofibrate 160 mg). Wide variations are found in cost of brand drug with generic version of same strength components. None of the pharmaceutical companies are selling drugs cheaper than or equal to the cost of generic drugs of same strength.Conclusions: Most of hypolipidemic drugs should come under control of Drug Price Control Order so that financial burden of healthcare services on Indian population can be reduced and by adherence to treatment will improve health status of the community.
ABSTRACT
Background: Prophylactic antimicrobials have an important adjuvant role in the prevention of Surgical Site Infection (SSI), which is one of the most preventable causes of post-operative complication. In India, due to lack of adequate information and guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery there is a need to generate baseline data on the pattern of use of prophylactic antimicrobials. Aims & Objective: This study is aimed to analyze the pattern of surgical chemoprophylaxis and surgical site infection (SSI) rate in patients who underwent elective orthopedic surgical procedure. Material and Methods: A prospective, observational study was performed on patients undergoing surgery, in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Data were collected in a pro-forma which included the patients’ details, prescriptions from date of admission to discharge or any other outcome and operative notes. Surgical site infection as defined by Centre for Disease Control criteria was recorded. Results: Total 305 patients were enrolled over a period of one year. In 237 (77.70%) patients antimicrobials prescribed by generic name. In preoperatively and intraoperatively, all the patients received parenteral antimicrobial. Postoperatively, 294 (96.40%) patients received only parenteral antimicrobials while in 11 (3.60%) patients received parenteral antimicrobials followed by oral antimicrobials. Preoperatively antimicrobials started 12 hours prior to surgery. Average duration of antimicrobials given postoperatively was 5.05 ± 1.14 days. Third generation Cephalosporins and Aminoglycosides were prescribed most frequently. Average number of antimicrobials used per patient was 4.40 ± 1.05. In follow up 37 (13.03%) patients developed SSI and most common isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: Surgical chemoprophylaxis was inappropriate in terms of choice of antimicrobial agent, timing of administration as well as the total duration of prescription, in majority of the cases, leading to higher SSI. Interventions are warranted to promote the development, dissemination and adoption of evidence based guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis.
ABSTRACT
The Forensic autopsy is a medical procedure. Unfortunately, it is too often thought of only in reference to violent or unnatural deaths. The present prospective study was aimed to know the effectiveness of post-mortem examination to find out cause of death and its correlation with histopathological examination. It was also intended to deduce various epidemiological parameters and their logical relevance. Total 825 autopsy cases were performed during January 2007 to December 2009 (3 years), out of which 63 (7.64%) were of sudden natural deaths. Most of cases were found in 31-50 years age group and male preponderance was seen in all age groups. A majority of deceased were married. Cardiovascular diseases were the most important cause contributing 58.73% in sudden natural deaths. These cardiac cases were mainly due to coronary artery disease, coronary thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction. The 90.49% cases were brought dead to the hospital. In majority of cases (95.24%) postmortem was performed within 24 hours of death.